Hallstatt is a charming little village on Lake Hallstatt’s western shore in the Austria mountainous of Salzkammergut region. As a UNESCO world heritage site, it is famous for its picturesque scenery and has been voted as one of the most beautiful places in Europe.
My journey to Hallstatt begins when I arrived at night around 9 pm from a hired vehicle with a driver. All of the shops are closed at this time and I wheeled my luggage to the hotel which is just in the town centre, checked in and had a quick meal at the hotel’s restaurants.
Since I only have two nights in Hallstatt I woke up earlier and hope to catch the sunrise and take some photos of this beautiful village and I am definitely not disappointed.
I was greeted by cold crisp morning air in the morning before sunrise and noticed a white blanket of snow covering the ground, trees and houses. I was surprised at how quiet everything seemed to be and the only sound I could hear are the slushy sounds my boots made while walking on the snow.
Hallstatt is just picture perfect, It’s 16th-century Alpine houses and alleyways in this village are built up on the slopes of the alps and with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and set with a beautiful lake in the foreground with swans gracing the water, Hallstatt looks like a fairytale during wintertime because of its magical scenery. I definitely agree with that and until today I feel it is one of my favourite places I had visited.
Strolling around the streets and the lake side of this quiet and peaceful town, seating in a cafe and checking the shops selling beautiful handicrafts the locals have created is really my favourite thing to do in Hallstatt.
After breakfast, many tourists started roaming the streets and some of the snow has melted off the rooftops revealing the colours of the architecture.
In the afternoon the weather suddenly turns stormy and strong winds and snow gasps across the lake, rattling the hanging signage and trash bin along the streets. However, the storm left as quickly as it came and life was back to usual again.
In Winter Hallstatt has an average winter temperature of -2 degrees Celsius, which makes it a perfect destination for those who want to enjoy the beautiful snow-covered mountains and landscapes.
Sparkles of lights illuminate gently when the night falls and introduce another magical atmosphere in the village.
Hallstatt is beautiful all seasons and I hope to revisit this beautiful town again.
